Cruciate
(Cru"ci*ate) a. [L. cruciatus, p. p. of cruciare to crucify, torture, fr. crux, crucis, a cross.
See Cross.]
1. Tormented. [Obs.] Bale.
2. (Bot.) Having the leaves or petals arranged in the form of a cross; cruciform.
Cruciate
(Cru"ci*ate) v. t. To torture; to torment. [Obs.] See Excruciate. Bale.
Cruciation
(Cru`ci*a"tion) n. [LL. cruciatio.] The act of torturing; torture; torment. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
Crucible
(Cru"ci*ble) n. [LL. crucibulum a hanging lamp, an earthen pot for melting metals (cf. OF.
croisel, creuseul, sort of lamp, crucible, F. creuset crucible), prob. of German origin; cf. OHG. krusul,
LG. krüsel, hanging lamp, kroos, kruus, mug, jug, jar, D. kroes cup, crucible, Dan. kruus, Sw. krus,
E. cruse. It was confused with derivatives of L. crux cross and crucibles were said to have been marked
with a cross, to prevent the devil from marring the chemical operation. See Cruse, and cf. Cresset.]
1. A vessel or melting pot, composed of some very refractory substance, as clay, graphite, platinum,
and used for melting and calcining substances which require a strong degree of heat, as metals, ores,
etc.
2. A hollow place at the bottom of a furnace, to receive the melted metal.
3. A test of the most decisive kind; a severe trial; as, the crucible of affliction.
Hessian crucible (Chem.), a cheap, brittle, and fragile, but very refractory crucible, composed of the
finest fire clay and sand, and commonly used for a single heating; — named from the place of manufacture.
Crucifer
(Cru"ci*fer) n. [See Cruciferous.] (Bot.) Any plant of the order Cruciferæ.
Cruciferous
(Cru*cif"er*ous) a. [L. crux, crucis, cross + -ferous: cf. F. crucifre.]
1. Bearing a cross.
2. (Bot.) Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a family of plants which have four petals arranged like the
arms of a cross, as the mustard, radish, turnip, etc.
Crucifier
(Cru"ci*fi`er) n. One who crucifies; one who subjects himself or another to a painful trial.
Crucifix
(Cru"ci*fix) n.; pl. Crucifixes [F. crucifix or LL. crucifixum, fr. L. crux, crucis, cross + figere,
fixum, to fix. See Cross, and Fix, and cf. Crucify.]
1. A representation in art of the figure of Christ upon the cross; esp., the sculptured figure affixed to a
real cross of wood, ivory, metal, or the like, used by the Roman Catholics in their devotions.
The cross, too, by degrees, become the crucifix.
Milman.
And kissing oft her crucifix,
Unto the block she drew.
Warner.
2. The cross or religion of Christ. [R.] Jer. Taylor.
Crucifixion
(Cru`ci*fix"ion) n.
1. The act of nailing or fastening a person to a cross, for the purpose of putting him to death; the use of
the cross as a method of capital punishment.
2. The state of one who is nailed or fastened to a cross; death upon a cross.
